West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-06-10
A MANSION NO ONE CAN
LIVE IN.
Written for the Courier-Journal by
Franklin III. North.

| uc StTOllcIS dlOlS filoi o'Sh"S
must have often observed, while pass
ing Eighty-siXth street, a fine, new
brown stone mansion that is always
tenantless. An air of perennial
gloom seems TO hover over it, and
the vacant lot separating it from
Eighty-siXth street-a deep. rocky,
unkempt sort of lot, with its occa-
sional tomato-can, sard;ne-box and
hoop skirt-makes the great wall of
brick that frowns down upon it look
the more bare and melancholy.
Many, no doubt, have wondered why
this costly house should not find a
tenant, situated as it is along the
grandest avenue of the continent
should not find some wealthy family
that would soften the exterior of the
front with rich curtins, smarten up
the costly glasses of the noble door
way and send bright-eyed, laughing
children to play upon the stoop and
romp about the smooth pavement.
Now and then, so 1 am told, family
is induced to move into the house by
some of the real estate agents that
have it on their lists. Carts and
furniture vans roll up to the door
and deposit heavy burdens of costly
furniture. Carpets are put down,
the windows polished, the halls
scrubbed and an air of life and ami
nation is given to the place. But
only for few weeks. Then the carts
and the vans come back, the furni-
ture is taken out again, the carpets
come up, the pictures come down
from the walls, and once more the
house is left solemn, silent and ten
antless. 1t seems there is mystic
ry about this house, and the nature
of this mystery l purpose to de-
scribe as nearly as possible in the
words of a friend of mine who is ia
miliar with its history.
The house is said to belong
to the estate Of the late Mr..
John Roach, the shipbuilder,
and though it is some two years
old, no family has yet been found
willing TO remain in it save for q
very short period. They were dis
turbed during the day and awaken
ed at night by strange sounds and
moving though unseen forms, and,
once out, declared they would not
re-erter were they to have the house
without the payment of a dollar.
Some little time ago family con-
sisting of q young man his wife and
three children moved in. The agent
promised to put the house il thor
ough repair, and so, when it was dis
cerned that the pipes were out of
order, they notified him and he at
once sent an expert plumber. This
nan and his assistants discovering
the seat of the trouble to be in the
cellar, went down there and we've
soon at work, hammering and sol
dering and tinkering, as is their
wont. But they didn't stay very
long; not even long enough 20 COM
plete their work. On the second
day of their labors they suddenly
and without explanation knocked off
work and quit the place. "What do
you mean by leaving your work half
| finished and everything in disordery'
demanded the new occupant (whom
| shall call Mr.. Smith as he hur-
ried into the plumbers shop.
well" replied the plumber,
brusquely, "we can't work down in
no celler Ike tina there's toe. much
draught." Cant wo~k in cellar
because of a draught?' replied the
surprised Mr.. Smith, repeating the
words, 'why in thunder didn't you
stop the draught?" "Oh, it don't
make no difference" said the plumb
er, evidently i'll at ease and embar-
assed, "we can't work there, and
that's all about it." The man did
not mean to be irsolenG; he only
seemed anxious to give up the job.
He was pale and he stanlmered as
Ire spoke. "But why don't you take
your tools opt if you've given up the
jobY demanded Mr.. Smith. "Oh,
never mind the TOOLS" was the reply; /;
"we amt going back there for no
tools.nor for nothin' else"
1t was but natural that Mr.. Smith
should be surprised at this remark
able behavior of the plumber, who
was willing not only to give up a
good paying job, but to lose kit of
valuable tools. He did not tell his
wife about the matter, for fear of
frightening her, but he spoke of it
to several of his friends, and they
could not account for it in any other
| way, save that the plumbers, being
ignorant, and hence superstitious,
had seen or heard something which
had frightened them and made them
believe the place was haunted.
1t was not long after this when
sore very strange things happened
in this Fifth avenne mansion. MIS-.
Smith. who was the first one annoy
ed by them, delayed for some time
! telling her husband what she had